Judas Was a Lucky Guy
We’ve all heard the story of the apostle Judas, who’s treachery towards Christ paved the way for Christ’s eventual crucifixion. But, did you know that he died two different times in the Bible? That’s pretty cool!
In the book of Acts, Judas buys a field with the money he received for turning in Christ. While in that field, “he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out”. Ouch!
In Matthew, however, Judas feels bad about turning in Christ, so he returns the money (”throws” it into the temple). He then goes “away” and hangs himself.
So, not only did Judas take the money and buy a field, but he also did not take the money and didn’t buy the field. And in the field that he did and did not buy, he fell over and split his belly open. But, in the other field that he didn’t buy, he hanged himself.
This page, entitled “How did Judas Iscariot Die?”, argues that the death in which Judas falls over and bursts open is just a metaphor for his spiritual death. Even if this is the case, I’m not sure why one account describes Judas taking the money and the other says that he gave it back. Or, why a parable about a spiritual death would talk about Judas purchasing a field. Kind of an odd place for a real estate transaction, don’t you think?
On the other hand, this site argues that Judas hung himself, and then a few days after hanging from the rope, his bloated corpse fell to the ground and ruptured. Acts just forgets to mention the reason why his body would have fallen and exploded. Even if this is the case, it doesn’t clear up the issue of returning the money. Note, however, that even if this is a possibility, it’s equally likely that both accounts are meant to be true by their authors and could just as easily be contradictions. Just because the two scenarios may complement each other doesn’t mean that they have to. The Bible is ambiguous on the point.
Link of the day: Pat Robertson is a nutjob. Also, read some of his nutjob quotes here.
Come on, man, this kind of thing happens all the time. Consider The Great Gatsby, for example. Sure, F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote the most famous version, but there are hundreds of other versions by numerous authors–some of whom may have had a better angle. In one version I read, Gatsby kills Tom and marries Daisy. In another, Nick kills Tom and Gatsby and marries Daisy. In yet a third, George kills Tom, Nick and Gatsby, and then claims both Daisy and Myrtle as his wives, and moves to Utah. That the accounts differ is inconsequential, though. What is undeniable fact is that there was a guy named Gatsby, and that, by whatever means, he is now dead.
Comment by Dave — 7 January, 2008 @ 02:10